Amnesty Programme to educate Nigerian youngsters

Updated on: Wednesday, March 14, 2012

A programme that has benefited thousands of the country’s youth was set up by a former president of Nigeria. His aim was to uplift the youth within the country, where over 70 percent are either uneducated or unemployed. The “Amnesty Programme” in Nigeria, was set up to ensure that every youngster is educated to better their prospects.

The Ramakrishna Advanced Training Institute in Coimbatore collaborates with the Amnesty programme in Nigeria to educate groups of students from Nigeria who live, learn and train here for six months.

“This programmeme started when we tied up with the BITS Inspection Technology in Chennai the Director of the Institute, K. R. Prasad, explained. They were aware of the programme, and had connections with this organization. We decided to be a part of the programme since we considered the magnitude of the situation.

Their government officials carefully scrutinised various institutes in the country,and selected us to help train their youngsters because we had the best infrastructure in terms of technical training,” he said.

“The facility where these students train is of international standards, in fact, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, helped set up the facility in Coimbatore,” Mr Prasad said, “At present, we have 70 students, who are here for a six month course, and as of now, the current batch of Nigerians are studying welding. They will learn different techniques of welding, such as Arc, Tig and Mig, shielded metal arc welding and gas metal arc welding. After the training they can be employed at construction sites, oil and natural gas companies, shipping, in simple, any type of fabrication work that involves metals.

Dennis, a student speaking about with what it’s like studying and living here in India said, “This school is really nice; we never expected it to be of such good standard. The teachers are very patient with us. When I finish with this course and go back home to Nigeria, with the marks I acquire and based on my technical performance, my government will assist me with getting a job. And like me, there are so many more who are benefiting from this programme and we will hopefully make a future for ourselves.”

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